The “Universe 25” experiment is one of the most terrifying experiments in the history of science, which, through the behavior of a colony of mice, is an attempt by scientists to explain human societies. The idea of “Universe 25” Came from the American.
In the 1970s, scientist John Calhoun conducted an experiment known as Universe 25, where he created an ideal environment for mice—providing them with unlimited food, water, and shelter in a safe, enclosed space.
At first, he introduced four pairs of mice, and they began to reproduce rapidly. However, after 315 days, their reproduction slowed significantly. As the population grew beyond 2,000, complex social behaviors emerged. The mice started forming groups and hierarchies, leading to conflicts among them.
Soon, problems arose. Stronger males began attacking weaker ones, while others withdrew from social life entirely. Many mice developed abnormal behaviors, with males becoming passive and no longer engaging in typical social or reproductive activities. Meanwhile, female mice also changed—they became aggressive, neglected their young, and stopped reproducing.
Over time, an increasing number of females avoided social interaction, rejecting mating and displaying erratic behaviors. Birth rates plummeted, and survival among newborn mice declined rapidly.
Eventually, a peculiar group of male mice emerged, later known as the “beautiful ones.” These mice did not engage in fighting, mating, or social interactions at all. They spent their time eating, grooming, and sleeping, appearing healthy but having no purpose beyond self-preservation. At this stage, most remaining mice were either isolated females or these passive males.
Calhoun described this period as the start of the “death phase”—a stage in which the mice lost their sense of purpose, ceased reproductive efforts, and withdrew from their community entirely. Despite having abundant resources, social breakdown accelerated
As time passed, newborn mice no longer survived, and reproduction completely halted. The colony’s structure collapsed entirely. By 1973, the last mouse in Universe 25 had died. Calhoun repeated this experiment multiple times, and each attempt resulted in total population extinction.
His findings sparked discussions about societal collapse, particularly in densely populated urban environments. While some scholars draw parallels between Universe 25 and modern society—including concerns about social isolation and behavioral shifts—many experts debate whether mice behavior can truly reflect human societal structures.
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